Essential Gardening Books for Planters and Admirers

Gardening books are too often put to pasture in the reference section of personal libraries. Think again. At Remodelista and Gardenista, our editors’ collection of personal favorites not only offer practical advice, but also fall into the “curl up with a good book” category.

Do you have an all-time favorite gardening read? Please share in the comment section below, as well as on Gardenista.

Above: Kendra, our UK gardening expert, recommends Garden People: Valerie Finnis and the Golden Age of Gardening. “Garden people are a bigger draw for me than plant personalities. This book is about the well-liked and accomplished plantswoman Valerie Finnis, who was also handy with a Rolleiflex,” says Kendra. “The book’s appeal lies in the square portraits, with their glorious post ’50s color, from Nancy Lancaster weeding in a sombrero to Percy Thrower, Britain’s first TV gardener. The story of the post-war gardening scene in this country is told through the prism of Valerie Finnis and her own fascinating life.” It is available for £10.84 at Amazon UK.

Above: Here’s the reference book of our collection (and, undoubtedly, one of the most dog-eared books of the group). The A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants from the American Horticultural Society is a deep resource for the gardening bookshelf. It is available for $50.40 at Amazon.